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Source verified August 18, 2026
McConnell Foundation - Funding Opportunities
Systems-change support for Canadian organizations
Latest source updateLast Update: June 30, 2026Latest change: McConnell’s funding guidance now shows ongoing intake, new Sector Building examples for 2026–2029 and 2026–2031, and updated funding conditions for applicants.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: June 30, 2026
Latest change: McConnell’s funding guidance now shows ongoing intake, new Sector Building examples for 2026–2029 and 2026–2031, and updated funding conditions for applicants.
McConnell funding guidance updated
McConnell’s applicant guidance now shows ongoing intake instead of “Applications are accepted year-round,” and the office-hours booking page is now an active scheduling screen showing Eastern Time - US & Canada with July 2026 selected. The For Applicants page also adds a new funding condition stating that McConnell is almost never the sole funder on a project and that it is uncommon for the foundation to fund the majority of a project budget. The What We Fund pages and Sector Building content were updated as well, including new Sector Building examples: Fora: Network for Change at $450,000 for 2026 - 2029 and Imagine Canada at $500,000 for 2026 - 2031, while the Montreal-specific scope line was removed from the general What We Fund page.
Funding available
Varies by project
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Canada
Overview
McConnell Foundation funding supports Canadian charities, non-profits, municipalities and other organizations working on Communities, Reconciliation and Climate. The program backs initiatives that aim for systems change, Indigenous-led solutions, climate mitigation and climate finance, as well as sector-building work that strengthens organizational capacity and networks.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Reduce environmental footprint
Eligible Funding
- Varies by project
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Other Recreation and Social Clubs
- Environment
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- 100% donations / grants
Scope
- Local
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Use collaborative action to bring multiple organizations together to tackle barriers to social and/or economic inclusion.
- Advance policy change that favours social justice, builds economic resilience and addresses structural barriers.
- Support regeneration – community-led solutions that enable recovery from historical harm and help rebuild more equitable futures.
- Indigenous-led solutions and Indigenous-led collaborative funding projects that advance a reconciliation economy.
- Climate mitigation solutions in Canada’s highest-emitting sectors and climate finance work, including regulatory oversight, strategic litigation, and Canada’s green and transition taxonomy.
Documents Needed
- Budget template
Official resources
Program guide
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Canadian charities, non-profits and municipalities.
- Registered charities are typically supported.
- Other types of organizations may also be supported.
Who is not eligible
- For-profit organizations, except in rare & specific situations.
- Private schools.
Eligible expenses
- Project-related salaries and staffing costs
- Administration and overhead attributed to the project
- Organizational strengthening and leadership development costs
- Project-specific training and evaluation costs
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- General fundraising campaigns and funding your team to engage in fundraising.
- Reducing a capital or operating deficit, contributing to an endowment, university or hospital endowments, and annual operating funds or other recurring costs unless directly linked to one of the focus areas and the success of the proposed project.
- Partisan political activities, strictly religious purposes or activities, and purely academic research or basic research, including academic research that would otherwise be funded by Canada’s Tri-Council or related to post-secondary studies.
- Conference or event sponsorship that is not related to the focus areas and/or does not support the participation of equity-deserving and/or under-represented groups.
- The purchase of building and/or construction materials, except for the Montreal strategy; projects outside Canada; international development initiatives; projects advancing nature-based solutions such as reforestation, tree planting, nature conservation or biodiversity preservation; and organizational emergency needs.
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Strategic alignment with the chosen focus area
- Potential to create significant, lasting change
- For some streams, proposals are reviewed through a two-stage process before detailed assessment
How to apply
- Submit all applications through the Application and Reporting Portal.
- Complete the Stage 1 short application by selecting the focus area most aligned with your initiative.
- Respond to six questions and submit the funding request and total project cost.
- If your short proposal is successful, submit the Stage 2 detailed proposal.
- Include the scale and scope of the proposed work, methods of evaluation, answers to specific focus area questions and a detailed budget with the detailed proposal.
Processing and Agreement
- Stage 1 is a preliminary assessment and, if there is enough alignment, applicants are invited to submit a more detailed Stage 2 application.
- Most major funding proposals must first submit a short-form application and, if invited, a detailed application.
- Both are reviewed by staff before a final decision is made by our Board.
- Typically, partners submit a short progress report annually, and this triggers the next installment of their funding.
Additional information
- The Sector Building stream is currently proactive in nature only.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the McConnell Foundation - Funding Opportunities Program
What is the McConnell Foundation - Funding Opportunities?
McConnell Foundation funding supports Canadian charities, non-profits, municipalities and other organizations working on Communities, Reconciliation and Climate. The program backs initiatives that aim for systems change, Indigenous-led solutions, climate mitigation and climate finance, as well as sector-building work that strengthens organizational capacity and networks.
Who is eligible for the McConnell Foundation - Funding Opportunities program?
To be eligible for the McConnell Foundation - Funding Opportunities program, you must:
The project must align with McConnell's funding priorities.
The work must be nationally relevant and change systems.
What expenses are eligible under McConnell Foundation - Funding Opportunities?
Use collaborative action to bring multiple organizations together to tackle barriers to social and/or economic inclusion.
Advance policy change that favours social justice, builds economic resilience and addresses structural barriers.
Support regeneration – community-led solutions that enable recovery from historical harm and help rebuild more equitable futures.
Indigenous-led solutions and Indigenous-led collaborative funding projects that advance a reconciliation economy.
Climate mitigation solutions in Canada’s highest-emitting sectors and climate finance work, including regulatory oversight, strategic litigation, and Canada’s green and transition taxonomy.
Who can I contact for more information about the McConnell Foundation - Funding Opportunities?
You can contact The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation (MCF) or by phone at 514-288-2133.
Where is the McConnell Foundation - Funding Opportunities available?
The McConnell Foundation - Funding Opportunities program is available across Canada.
Is the McConnell Foundation - Funding Opportunities a grant, loan, or tax credit?
McConnell Foundation - Funding Opportunities is a Grant and Funding
Who are the financial supporters of the McConnell Foundation - Funding Opportunities?
McConnell Foundation - Funding Opportunities is funded by The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation (MCF)